H.R. 61 – Reading Mode

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 61

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 5, 2011

Mr. Scalise introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL

To amend title 5, United States Code, to require Federal employees to use coach-class air travel in the United States except in limited circumstances, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Controlling Our Air-travel Costs at Home Act of 2011 or the Coach Act of 2011.

Travel restriction

(a)

In general

Subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

5711.

Domestic air travel restriction

(a)

An employee may only be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses of official air travel within the United States if such travel is coach-class, unless such travel is necessary to accommodate a disability or other special need.

(b)

If an employee is reimbursed in contravention of this section, the employee shall pay to the agency 75 percent of the amount reimbursed for such travel.

(c)

For purposes of this section, the term United States means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States, but does not include the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

(b)

Technical amendment

The analysis for chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 5710 the following:

5711. Domestic air travel restriction.

(c)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) applies with respect to travel taken after the date regulations are issued pursuant to section 3(b).

Congressional disapproval of domestic travel rules

(a)

Congressional disapproval of rules

The Congress disapproves the following provisions of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, as such provisions apply to air travel within the United States (as defined in section 5711 of title 5, United States Code, as added by section 2 of this Act), submitted by the General Services Administration relating to Airline Accommodations, and such provisions shall have no force or effect:

(1)

Section 301–10.122.

(2)

Paragraphs (a), (c), and (d) of sections 301–10.123.

(3)

Paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (f), (h), and (j) of section 301–10.124.

(b)

Revision of regulations

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall issue regulations to revise sections 301–10.121 through 301–10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, in accordance with this Act and section 5711 of title 5, United States Code, as added by section 2 of this Act.